So much has changed in the last few years, especially when it comes to purchasing electronics. If you’re like me, then you love having the newest, shiniest, and fastest computers and smartphones out there. You can use these devices for all kinds of things, from doing a cell phone lookup to storing family photos. The big problem with buying electronics is that they depreciate even faster than cars do, which as we all know is incredibly fast.

But because there are so many distractions bombarding each and every one of us every single day, it’s hard to stay focused on what’s important, like buying the newest iPhone or MacBook. Luckily, there is hope. So many websites out there offer competitive deals on laptops, tablets, smartphones, digital cameras, and other electronics that your family needs.

Tips For Buying Electronics In 2018

Buy Used

The other thing that buying electronics has in common with buying cars is that it’s cheaper to get both used. Just like buying a used car, though, buying used electronics can be a bit tricky. But as long as the device is in decent shape, restoring it to factory settings should make it as good as new.

While electronics depreciate quickly, they’ll last a long time as long as you take care of them. Be sure to handle them with care every time you use them for a cell phone lookup. So, go with a used model the next time you buy an expensive electronic device. Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and the 5miles app are all great places to search for people around you who are selling their electronics.

Order Online

You can usually find better tech deals online.

The better alternative is to do a cell phone lookup and shop online. Online giant Amazon has been at the forefront of the internet retail market for the past few years, but they aren’t the only reputable online vendor of electronic devices.

Another great online store is Newegg, which sells all sorts of gadgets. They even have a free shipping service called Newegg Premier, which is similar to Amazon Prime.

If you prefer getting into a bidding war, there’s always eBay. You can get cheaper prices, but you run the risk of buying used products that might be a bit out of shape. Sometimes, though, that better deal is just worth it.

When it comes to electronics, there are a ton of choices out there. A good guideline is to take the time to shop around before you make a purchase, unless it’s something you need right away. Buy used electronics when you can, and maybe sell your old ones to make room in your home and your budget for the new ones you want!

More and more people are cutting the cord and switching to streaming services. While most people just have Netflix, there are some of us who have subscriptions to multiple services, such as Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Showtime. Some people prefer having a bigger movie selection, and others just want to binge watch their favorite TV shows with their family. In addition, there are a few parents who like using a text message spy to keep track of what their children are watching. Which streaming service should you use? I’ve put together a small guide about the most popular ones.

Netflix

Both kids and parents love Netflix.

Netflix is everyone’s go-to for movies, TV series, and more. That’s because it has a little bit of everything. From classic sitcoms like “Friends,” to Disney movies that the whole family loves, to original supernatural series like “Stranger Things,” Netflix is a one-stop entertainment source. Its parental controls help parents rest easy, even if they don’t have a text message spy app installed on their child’s phone. Plus, Netflix starts at only $8 a month. Personally, I think that it’s best for people who are really into all kinds of movies, because its collection is a little sparse when it comes to both classic and newer releases.

Hulu

Hulu, on the other hand, is more geared toward people who are big fans of broadcast television. Some of the most successful shows of all time, like “Seinfeld” and “Will & Grace,” are exclusive to Hulu. It also offers new episodes of shows that are currently running on major networks, such as “Brooklyn Nine Nine.” They’re usually available to watch the day after their network premiere.

Amazon Prime Video

If you’re an Amazon Prime customer, then this is a no-brainer. It already comes with your membership, along with other perks such as two-day free shipping. However, if you aren’t interested in Amazon Prime, you can subscribe to their streaming service for just $9 a month. Amazon Prime Video offers a good mix of TV shows, movies, and original programming such as “Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams.” Plus, it’s the only streaming service that has the rights to the incredibly popular “Downton Abbey.”

Like most parents, I never thought my child would end up being a victim of cyberbullying. I knew what cyberbullying was, and how prevalent it still is, but it never occurred to me that it might happen to my daughter. I’d say my daughter is above average; she’s about to graduate from Carnegie Mellon, after all. But when she was still in high school, she was a typical teen. She had friends and would play sports after school. For some reason, I assumed that only kids who were loners or too “different” had to deal with cyberbullying. But any child can be a victim. And it can happen to your kids too.

The Warning Signs

My daughter didn’t want to tell me what was going on. I noticed that she was starting to become more withdrawn and anxious. She stopped going on social media as much as she used to. Then, she wanted to skip sports practices and stopped going out with her friends. Her best friend’s mom, who used to share the driving with me, made up an excuse to stop carpooling.

I could tell there was something wrong when my daughter started avoiding me.

At that point, I asked my daughter if she and her best friend had a fight or weren’t speaking. She burst into tears and said that her former best friend was being mean to her online. Then, she showed me her phone. There were dozens of text messages from her former friend and other classmates saying hateful things. They all called my daughter terrible names and told her to commit suicide. I quickly logged into her Facebook account and saw dozens of similar messages. My daughter was a victim of cyberbullying. And even worse, her former friend had years worth of secrets, stories, and other personal information that she was using against her.

How I Stepped In

At first, I didn’t know what to do. I felt so helpless. But I knew that I needed proof if I wanted other people to believe me. I started taking screenshots of every post and message. For good measure, I took screen shots of these kids’ profiles in case they deleted them. Once I printed everything out, I called the principal of her school to demand a meeting.

Originally, the principal told me that the school couldn’t get involved because the bullying was online, not on school property. But then I pointed out that some of the messages had to have been posted from school computers. These messages were posted during the day and students aren’t allowed to have cell phones with them while school is in session. After that, the principal changed his story.

I then demanded to meet with the parents of the kids who had been cyberbullying my daughter. When they tried to say they wasn’t their kids, I showed them the screen shots I took. Some of the parents weren’t surprised, but some were. However, all of them were embarrassed. The problem didn’t stop right away, but it did eventually. If your child is a victim of cyberbullying, the best thing parents can do is get involved. Get proof. Get the authorities involved, if necessary. Don’t stop fighting for your child until the situation is resolved.

For parents, Facebook is both a blessing and a curse. It helps us stay in touch with friends we lost contact with years ago. But, it also allows our children to talk to strangers and be exposed to cyberbullying. Fortunately, Facebook has just added one more redeeming quality: you can now order food through the app. This is a lifesaver when you’re having a busy day and can’t even think about what to cook tonight for everyone. In addition, you can refer to remote cell spy reviews to make sure your child isn’t ordering any food through Facebook on their own. Here’s why Facebook’s newest feature is so useful for parents.

You Don’t Need To Buy Additional Electronics

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa can order things online for you. But, unless you already have the Amazon Echo or Kindle, you can’t use Alexa to order delivery. You most likely already have the Facebook app on your phone, so you can just place your food order directly through that. No extra devices are required.

You Don’t Have To Download Another App

Sure, apps like GrubHub are convenient for ordering food straight to your home, but who even has space on their phone for another app they barely even use? I know I barely have any free space on mine, thanks to all the photos and videos I take of my family. If you’re like me, you use Facebook every day. To place an order, all you have to do is access the app’s “Explore” menu and click on the button to order food.

You Don’t Have To Stop What You’re Doing

Facebook has made ordering pizza easier than ever.

Parents are masters at multi-tasking, and ordering food on Facebook will fit right into your routine. You won’t have to stop everything, look through your kitchen drawer for your local Chinese restaurant’s menu, and call them to place an order. Instead, you can place your order while you’re out walking the dog or waiting for your child at the bus stop.

Alexa

Some editions of the Kindle Fire are included with Alexa.

Amazon’s Alexa virtual personal assistant is a fantastic piece of technology to have in the household. Kids can use Alexa to help them with homework and answer questions that their parents don’t know. By using Alexa, your children can do better in school. That eliminates the need of hiring a tutor, who may or may not have arrest records. Plus, Alexa makes homework fun.

Parents can use Alexa to order important household supplies on Amazon without having to log into a computer. It’s also great for looking up facts, hearing the news, listening to music, getting recipes, and many other things. Best of all, Alexa is inexpensive. This technology is also available on some versions of the Kindle Fire, which means that parents who already have one don’t need to purchase yet another electronic.

Home Video Surveillance

Smaller and more advanced cameras have made it inexpensive to get a home security system with video. Parents can watch their kids after school, right from the office, by using video security cameras. You can also see who is at the door, which friends come over, and what’s going on in the house when they aren’t home. This allows you to discover if anyone with arrest records has entered your home.

Nowadays, most security systems can accessed from your smartphone. So, you’d be able to interact with your kids, turn lights on or off, and even adjust the thermostat in the house, no matter where you are. This gives you peace of mind and keeps your children safe at home when you can’t be there.

Boon Glo Nightlight With Portable Balls

The innovative Boon Glo nightlight with portable balls is something that you should buy for each of your children. You might even want one yourself. This nightlight uses LED lights that can change color. The light consists of three stems, and each one holds a lighted, portable ball that is perfectly sized for a child’s hand. The balls can be removed from the stems, so you or your child can use them like flashlights. This is perfect for late night trips to the bathroom or trips downstairs for a snack. Just make sure that the balls are returned to the stems after you use them. Otherwise, you’ll constantly be fishing them out from underneath your furniture.

Graco Vibrating Baby Monitor

Baby monitors are standard equipment for parents. The Graco Vibrating baby monitor, on the other hand, is great for parents who like to play video games or watch TV after the kids go to bed. If you have headphones on or are cuddled up watching Netflix, you might not always hear the baby monitor go off. But this one vibrates and lights up to get your attention. No matter what you’re doing, you won’t miss your child waking up or getting out of their crib or bed.

If you and your spouse both have full-time jobs, you know that it can be a real challenge trying to meet the demands of both work and parenthood. Luckily, modern technology makes that struggle a little easier. It can help you keep your household organized, focus on work, and still manage to spend time with your family. There is even a way to monitor your child’s online activity on their phone and make sure they’re safe. The amount of positive Auto Forward spy reviews suggest that it’s the best app for cell phone monitoring. Here are a few other ways that technology makes it easier for parents to keep track of everything.

Scheduling

Modern households run on a pretty tight schedule and everyone needs to be on the same page. Shared calendars and scheduling apps make it easy to share a schedule with every member of the household. After an update is added, the app syncs with your family’s schedules, guaranteeing that no one misses out on a change.

Smarter Cars

Busy parents spend a lot of time in their cars. Most of the time, they’re either driving their kids to and from various places, or they’re running errands. But thanks to smart technology in cars, it’s easy to get a lot of other things done while you’re on the move. With voice activated support, you can listen to the news, get the weather, return phone calls and catch up on social media, all while driving. New text messages will be read to you and you can respond by voice. Your phone or tablet will type what you say and send it as a text or an email. You can also find the nearest dry cleaner and update your schedule, all from your car.

Shopping

Reading Auto Forward spy reviews and then downloading the app can let you check up on your kids when you’re on the go.

Running errands is something that every parent hates. Rushing from store to store, just to keep the pantry stocked with essentials, is time consuming when you have a full-time job and a family. If all you really want is to spend time with your spouse and kids, it can be a real downer to waste hours on errands.

Amazon Echo can solve that problem, thanks to its virtual assistant, Alexa. It can order household supplies and even food directly from Amazon for you, so you don’t need to run extra errands. Alexa can also help you make lists of what you need. When you’re ready to go, the virtual assistant can give you directions that will get you back home as soon as possible. There are also apps that can let you keep track of what your child is doing while you’re out. Numerous Auto Forward spy reviews recommend it as one of the best apps out there right now.

Paperwork

How many times has your child forgotten to give you a permission slip until the day it was due? When you’re on the go and you need to keep a backup copy of your documents, an iPad Pro is a great tool to have. You can electronically sign documents with the iPad Pro stylus and email them wherever they need to go. Or, you can take a photo of the signed document and upload it online. The iPad Pro makes your car a temporary office; if you’re stuck at your child’s football practice or dance class, you can still get your work done.

Do you have any questions about other ways to stay organized? Get in touch with me by visiting my Contact page.